Tape-serving device



Dec. A29 1925'.

T. H. KRUEGER TAPE SERVING DEVICE Filed Julyalg. 1921 monufrs l Dec. 29 1925'- 1,567,655

T.HQKRUEGER TAPE SERVING DEVICE Filed July 19. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 TTORNEYS Patented Dec. 29, 1192,15.

.untreu sTATes rnnononn n. anuncian, or Naw YORK, N. Y.

TAPE-SERVING DEVICE.

Application ined July 19, 1921. serial No. 485,868.-

To all whom it may conce-rn:

Be it known that I, Timononn H. KRUEGER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inl Tape-Serving Devices, of` which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for delivering tape andI is particularly adapted for serving pieces of gummed aper tape 1n .a lnoistened condition ready or being applied to parcels and wrappers.

More particularly the invention proposes a machine which, in one form of its embodiment, consists of a pivoted feed arm, provided with a gripper mechanism which is arranged to advance the tape when the arm is oscillated, the said gripper mechanism being arrangedto co-operate with a circular guide concentric with the pivot of the feed arm.

It proposes, moreover, to associate a tape severing device with the said feed arm and provides mechanism whereby a single handle may be employed yfor selectively operating the feeding and' severmg mechanism. Means are preferably provided for rendering the severing mechanism operative only at the end of -a feed stroke of the feed arm, and before the return stroke thereof.

The above and various other features and objects of the invention, which will hereinafter" appear, will now be more particularly set forth in the following description from which a good understanding ofthe'invention may 'be had, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation illustrating one form of embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figurel';

-F igure 3 is a detail view of the `moistening device'illustrated in vertical section g' Figure 4 is aplan view of Figure 3, part of the device being in section as indicated by lines IV-IV of Figure 3 Figure `5 is a perspective vlew illustratlng the upper end ofthe guide for the tape;

' Figure 6 is a view showing the rocker arm and its associated mechanism, as .seen from `the right in Figure 1; and

Figure 7 is a detail view illustrating the gripping mechanism.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in each of the several views.

The tape serving device illustrated inthe drawings, comprises a casing D, ornamental 1n shape and consls'tmg of a forward side wall A and a rearward side wall B, these being integral with A and secured to B byv machine screws. The side walls are provided at their lower edges with lugs 4 having recesses in which are secured members 5 of rubber or other elastic material, which serve as feet and thus revent scratching orA other injury to the sur ace of the counter or other table on which the device will ordinarily be placed in practical use.

Extending upwardly from the side wall B. is a curved arm 6 which supports the cradle C into which isplaced a roll of tape 7. L This cradle. isformed of a rear plate 8 (Figure 6) integral with arm 6, and a forward plate 9 which is integral with the bottom wall of the cradle, this wall being secured to the side wall 8 by means of machine screws 10. The tape 7 passes over a stud 11 on arm 6 and enters a guide 12 which is circular in form and somewhat greater than 90 degrees in length. The guide is eonstructedof a piece of sheet metal (Figures 4 and 5), which` at one end is bent about the stud 11, and which at its edges is provided with turned-over flanges 14 for forminga guideway for the tape. The upper ends of the 'flanges 14 are turned backward, as illustrated at 15 in Figure 5,

,to facilitate the insertion of the tape into the guideway. The lower part of the guide HHSSU En 1 2 is secured to the side wall B of the casing by means of screws 17 cooperating with a strip 16 which is preferably integral with the sheet metal guide, being formed, as indicated in Figure 4, by an extension of the flange 14 bent backward on itself at 18. An

opening 19 is providedlongitudinally in the l guide for a purpose which will appear hereinafter. A leaf spring 11 is secured to the rear wall 2 o f the casing D and bears upon the tape passing over the portion ofof embodiment consists of a receptacle 20,-

preferably of bronze or other non-corrosive for the purpose of holding the lower,gum

med surface of tape 7 firmly against the ends ofthe, bristles, is secured by means ofna `screw 27 to a wall 26 extending pwardly from receptacle 20, and forming, in fact,

` a continuation of the side wall B of the receivin casing, as indicated in Figures 1, 2 and 4. The angular position of the pressure bar is governed by a stop 28 adjustable in a slot 29. By the aid of this stop the operator is enabled to return the1 pressure bar to its proper position after he has tilted the bar' upwardly for any reason, as for example, for removing the brush for cleaning purposes.

At its forward end the receptacle 20 is provided with a cover plate 30 which has studs 31 whereby the plate is4 pivotally associated with receptacle 2Q, this receptacle being provided with suitable openings for said studs. The coverplate extends shghtly beyond the upper wall @fthe receptacle and ma thus be readily lifted for the purpose o renewing the liquid in the receptacle.

For the purpose of advancing the tape through guide 12 and past the lmoistener M,- I provide an oscillatory gripping mechanism G, which is mounted on a rocker or feedA arm 32 pivoted on the shank of a screw 33 mounted in the forward plate 9 of the cradle C. A spring 34 serves to bias ythis arm toward the right (as viewed in Figure 1), so that the lowermost end thereof engages a stop 35 mounted in one of a plurality of holes 36 adjacent the-upper edge of theside wall A. In the present instance, the stop 36 comprises a screw 35 having a knurled head and provided with a collar,35 ofl rubber or other suitable material for absorbing shocks. A fixed stop 51 is provided on plate A for limiting the left or forward motion of the arm.

` Integral with arm 32 and extending across guide 12 are provided members 37 and 38 Figure 6), the former being above and. the atter being below, the guide. Adjacent the center/line of the opening 19 of the guide, the member 37 is provided with a Arearwardly extending portion 39 (Figure 1') 'inf which is pivoted al dog 40 whichv by gravity 'or otherwise. is basedtov turn counter-clockwise about -its-pivot into the osi- "ton indicated in Figure [1. In this sition the eccentric surface 40fofvthe dog 1s in engagement with the tape, as illustrated in Figure 7. Opposite face 40Va the tape is 'engaged by the member' 38 of arm 32.

When the armv 32 is `moved toward the left (Fig.l yl), the Vdog will rotate. slightly in the direction of the arrow in Figure 7 `owing to the friction between the tape and surface 40a. This rotation has the eifect of increasing the pressure between the dog "(5 that the dog 40 is rotated in the reversek direction, and thus presents to the tape a partout' its surface having a smaller radius. During the backward movement of arm 32, therefore, the tape remains stationary.

To enhancevthe effectiveness of the gripping action, the surface 40 of the dog 1s preierably roughened or provided with ratchet teeth, as indicated in Figure 7. By reference to Figure 1, it will be observed that the lower surface of the cradle C is so close to the upper edge of the dog that the same cannot be turned clockwise beyond a small angle sufficient to permit of the proper operation of the dog. By virtue of this feature the dog is restrained from .being accidentally turned over clockwise into an inoperative (position. Proper operation o f the gripping evice at all times is thus assured.

For the purpose of severing the tape after it has been advanced by the mechanism just described, I provide the arm 32. with a cutting device S which comprises a knife edge 41 provided on the member 37 hereinabove mentio-ned, and a second knife edge 42 which is arranged to cooperate with the klnife edge 41 in the mannerof a pair of siears.

which is coiled a spring 45 which serves to bias the blade to the open position, as illustrated in Figure 6. A stop 46 mounted on a handle 47, integral with the pivot of blade 42, cooperates with a recess 48 in lug 43 to limit the opening and closing movements of the shears.

An arm 49 integral withblade 42 extends below the upper edge of the side wall A of the' casing. The operation of the cutting device, therefore, is impossible in any position of arms32 except at its extreme left as viewed in Figure 1) at which point the wall A is provided with a recess 5() for vpermittingthe asage of the arm 49.

When the eeder arm 32 is in this position,

the cutting edge l41 of member 37 extends beyond, i. e., to the left of guide 12, and

The blade 42 is pivoted on a lug -43 on arm 32 by means of a screw 44 about The roll of` tape is placed into the cradle and the end of the tape is passed over the stud 11 and into the guide 12, so as to enter -between the jaws of the gripping device,

the gummed surface of the tape" being turned face downwardly in the guide. The arm 32 is then operated to feed the tape into the forward end of the guide. The device is then ready for use. I

To obtain a strip of moistened tape, the operator grasps the handle 47 and pulls the feed arm 32 towards him, so that the tape in guide 12 is pushed through the moistener M- and beyond. Then the feed arm reaches the forward limit of its motion, 'the operator depresses handle 47 and thus severs the tape. He then releases the handle and the spr1ng34 operates the feed arm back against stop 35.

A deiniterlength of strip will thus be obtained from the device andI this length maybe adjusted by the adjustment of the' position of stop 35, as will be readily understood. An indefinite length of strip may be obtained, however, by moving the feed arm 32 back and forth several times be-V fore the strip ,is finally severed.

- It will be observed thatv in the device of my invention, a positive feed is obtained by the secure hold on the tape afforded by the gripping device, andthe operation of a single handle is suicient to bring about both the vfeeding and the cutting of the tape. The cutting device travels withl the -feed arm, and the cutting operation takes over, so simplify the entire device that it comprises but very fewmoving parts. The whole mechanism, therefore, is of extraordinary low cost of manufacture, simple in operation and ornamental in ap earance.

Futhermore, it will be observed that the gripping device engages and feeds the paper without penetrating it." This is a desirable feature since the smooth surface of the Apaper is not damaged or marred in any "way, and always .presents a good ap-I f pearance when applied to apackage; also,

by keeping 'the lsurface of the paper smooth, its passage through the moistener is facilitated. l

' Although I have herein shown and described vonly onel specific form of embodi' ment of the invention, it will be readily arm, means limiting the angular' movements understood that many changes and modifications may be made l'therein without de- 'parting from the spirit and scope of the invention, it being myv intention to claimthe. samev broadly in whatever 'form its principles may be employed. i

What I claim is 1. In a tape feeding` device, a pivoted arm, an operatinghandle' fixedl thereon, and a tape .gripping mechanism mounted on said ,Y arm, said mechanism comprising a pivoted gripping member having an v'eccentric gripping surface. 2. In a tape feeding device, a: pivoted S0 of said arm, and a tape gripping mechanism operative in only one direction of movement of said arm, associated with said arm, said mechanism'comprising members for passing over opposite sides of the tape, one 35 of said members vbeing provided with an eccentric surface constantly in engagement with the tape and -automatically -tiltable upon movement of the arm in one direction into clamping cooperation with the other member.

3. A tape gripping device comprising a Y pair of members arranged to pass over opposite faces of the tape, one of said members being pivoted eccentrically to moveinto engagement with the other, and means automatically operative.y upon movement' of said members in Aone direction for increasing the force of engagement of said members with said tape.

4. A tape gripping device comprising a plurality of members arranged to pass over opposite faces of the tape, and a commonl support therefor, one of said members being pivotally mounted and provided with an eccentric surface constructed and arranged to rotate/into firm gripping engagement with said tape as a result of movement of said support in la predetermined direction relatively to said tape.l 110 ',5. A gripping device'comprising a plurality of members for engaging a piece of tape from opposite sides, one of said menibers being plvoted to rotate relatively to the other and provided with an eccentric surface in advance of its pivot whereby,

as a result of lmovement 'of said members in one direction relatively to said tape, the ressure of'the members Vvon said tape is lncreasedy so that lsaid tape will be fed4 by 20 'the members in said v one direction but not inl the` opposite direction. i

6. .In a'tape serving device, 9..-grippingI and feeding mechanism, a severing mechanism operable at the option of the opera- 125 tor, and meansfor mountmg said mechanism for reciprocatory movement together.

f '7. In av tape serving. device, a gripping mechanism, a severing mechanism including an operating handle, andmeans for mounting said mechanisms for reciprocatory movement together, said means comprising a pivoted lever arm.

8. In a tape serving device, a gripping mechanism, a manually operable severing mechanism, means for mounting said mechanisms for reciprocatory movement together, and means for preventing operation of said severing mechanism, except at a definite point in the movement of said mechanisms.

9. In combination, a feeding mechanism, a severing mechanism includinga severing handle operable at the option of the operator, means for mounting said feeding mechanism and severing handle for reciprocatory movement together between limits, and means for preventing operation of said severing handle except at one of said limits.

10. In combination, means for guiding a strip through a circular arc, means for feeding said strip through said arc, and means operative at the limit of said arc for severing said strip, said means comprising a manually operable member for actuating said strip severing means mounted for movement in unison with the feeding lmeans.

11. In combination, a pivoted strip feeding mechanism, and means for guiding the strip through the arc of movement of said mechanism, said mechanism comprising a freely pivoted clamping dog arranged to grip said tape at any point of said arc, Ia carrier on which the dog is pivoted, and operating means for the carrier independent of the dog.

12. In combination, a guide, a feeding mechanism operative throughout said guide, a moistening mechanism, and a manually operable severingmechanism including an operating handle movable throughout said guide but operative only at a point between said moistening mechanism and said guide.

13. In combination, a feeding mechanism, a severing mechanism, an operating member for both of said mehcanisms, and means for causing operation of one or the other of said mechanisms according to the direction of force applied to said member.

14. In combination, a feeding mechanism, a severing mechanism, a handle for causing operation of said mechanisms, means. for rendering a movement of translation of said handle effective to operate one of said mechanisms, and a movement of rotation effective to operate the other of said mechanisms.

l5. In combination, a feeding mechanism, a severing mechanism, a handle associated with both of said mechanisms, means responsive to a pull on said handle for causing said mechanisms to feed the tape, and means responsive to a depression of said handle to sever said tape. A

16. A tape feeding and severing mechanism comprising an operating handle means responsive to a pull of said handle for causing said mechanism to feed the tane, means responsive to a depression of said handle for causing said mechanism to sever said tape, and means for preventing depression of said handle except at the end of a feeding stroke of said handle.

17. In combination, tape-moistening means, a rocker arm, va tape guide concentric with said rocker arm, and means comprising a pivotally mounted dog having an eccentric lsurface associated with said arm for gripping the tape through the guide to thrust the tape in one direction along the guide to the moistening means when said arm is reciprocated.

18. In combination, a rocker arm, a continuous tape guide concentric with said rocker arm, means associated with said arm for feeding the tape in one direction When said arm is reciprocated, manually operable tape severing means including cutting members and a handle carried by said arm, and means for preventing actuation of said handle to operate the severing means except at the end of a feeding stroke be- 'yond the end of the tape guide.

19. In combination, a rocker arm, a tape guide concentric With said rocker arm, means associated With said arm for feeding the tape in one direction when said arm is reciprocated, tape severing means operable at the forward limit of movement of the arm at .the option of the operator, and means for adjustably limiting the return movement of said rocker arm.v

20. In combination, a rocker arm, a tape guide concentric with said rocker arm, means comprising a freely pivoted dog having an eccentric surfaceassociated-with said arm for feeding the tape in one direction when said arm' is reciprocated, manually operable tape severing means associated with said arm, means for rendering said severing means operativo only at the end of a feeding stroke, and adjustable means for limiting the return stroke of the rocker arm.

2l. In a tape feeding mechanism, a rocking feed arm, a guide for the tape concentric with the pivot of said arm, said guide being shiaped so as to expose a part of said tape for action of the feed mechanism thereon, a pair of ygripping members associated with said arm and arranged to cooperate with the exposed part of the said tape, and a severing mechanism for said tape, said mechanism comprising a stationary blade, a. movable blade,A and an operating handle mounted on said` rocking feed arm.

22. The device of claim 19, in which said gripping members comprise a pivoted do biased to engage one side of the tape, anv a relatively vfined member for engaging the opposite side of the tape, said dog being provided With =a roughened eccentric surface so as to increase the pressure between said dog and said other member when said arm is moved in a predetermined direction relatively to the tape.

23. In a tape severing mechanism, a pair of shearing blades, one of said blades beingv fixed and the other being movable relatively thereto, means for mounting 'said blades for movement along the path of said tape, and means for preventing operation of said movable blade except at a predetermined point in the path of said tape.

24. In a tape severing mechanism, a rocker arm, a guide for the tape, concentric vwith the pivot of said arm, a stationary blade affixed'to said arm, a movable blade pivotally mounted on-said arm, means for biasing said movable blade to an open position, and means for preventingclosure of said blade except at a predetermined point in the path of said tape. Y i

25. In combination, a rocker arm, a guide for the tape concentric with the pivot of said arm, a tape feeding and a tape severing mechanism lassociated with said arm, a4 handle associated with said arm, said feeding mechanism comprising a pair olf gripf ping members operative -to grip said tape when said armis moved in one' direction, said severing mechanism comprising ay blade fixed to said arm, and a movable blade pivotally associated with said arm, means for biasing said movable blade to ran open posi'- tion, and a handle associated with sald arm for causing reciprocation thereof, said handle being arranged to cause operation of said movable blade in response to a depression thereof.

26. A guide for tape, comprising an integral strip of sheet metal having a longitudinal slot therein -and `provided 'with turned-over flanges `forxforming a channel for the tape. p

2T. A guide for tape ofthe character described in Vclaim 26, provided with an extension from one of said flanges and turned backward thereon, whereby said guide maybe secured to a support. f v

28. In a tape serving device, the combination of an inclined tape guide, a tape moistening means at one end of said guide, and a reciprocable tape feeder to grip the tape and draw it forward through said guide toward the moistening means, of a knife operable at the conclusion cfa feeding stroke,`

tape concentric with a point on said cradle, a stud on said extension lfor supporting said guide adjacent its upper end and for forming a bearingsurface for the tape, a

fiange on said guide for supporting the same at its lower end on said yrearward side wall of the casing, a *rocker arm pivotally associated with said cradle at the point with which said guide isconcentric, a fixed stop for limiting the forward motion of said arm, and an adjustable stop for limiting Ithe rearward movement thereof, said guide terminating short of said forward stop and being provided with a slot for exposing a part of the tape therein, a tape gripping mechanism associated with saidrocker arm, said gripping mechanism being operative on a forward stroke of the arm and arranged to coact with the part `of the tape exposed by the said slot in the guide, a severing mechanism comprising a relatively fixed blade' associated with said rocker arm, and a relatively movable blade pivotally associated with said arm, a handle associated with said arm whereby the said arm may be oscillated to feed the tape, said handle being associated with said blade so that a depression thereof will cause operation of said movable blade,

means for normally holding said movable blade in an open position, and a member co- A acting with the forward side .wall of the casing for preventing operation of said movable blade except when said rocker arm is against its forward stop. j 30. In a tape serving device, the combination of a tape guide, having a longitudinal slot and provided with turned over flanges formin a channel for the tape therein,- an integra portion extending beyond said slot for securing the guide to a support, reciprocabl'e means adapted to grip the tape through said slot and feed it forward and a spring pressed resistance device pressing against the tape on said integral extending portion.

31. In combination with a moistening mechanism comprising a receptacle and a Vbrush extending outward from said receptacle, of a plate mounted above the ends of the bristles and having a surface parallel to the direction of issuance ofthe tape for forcing the tape into intimate contact wit-h the ends of the bristles, and means for.

pivotally mounting said plate so as to permit adjustment thereof by moving thefree end of the plate toward or away from the bristles to effect the proper amount .of ressure between the resilient ends of the ristles and the plate. v -I 32. In a tape serving device, the combina.- tion of a tape guide, a longitudinal slot therein, a tape moistening means at one end .of said guide, a reciprocable tape feeder to v vgrip the tape through said slot and `draw it forward in the guide toward the moistening means, of a. choppin knife having a handle conveniently opera le at the-conc1u sion of a feeding stroke of the feeder for 6 severing the tape at the end of said 'guide and in advance of said moistening means.

33. In a tape serving device a meistenin apparatus comprising a liquid receptacle, a rush in the receptacle, and a guide to direct the tape to and past the brush in contact therewith, the guide being swingf able to a position to permit removal of the brush from the receptacle.

34. In a tape serving device a 'moisten-v in apparatus comprising a liquid receptacle, arush in the rece tacle, and a guide to direct the tape to an ast the brush in contact therewith, the guide being movable to ,f permit the removal of the brush from the \rece tacle, and an adjustable stop to cor rect y locate the guide when it is returnec `to normal position. f

35. In a tape serving device, the combination with tape` moistening means and a 251 reciprocable tape feeder to grip the tape and l`l-draw it toward the moistening means, of a vknife operable at the conclusion of a feeding" stroke, at the option of. the operator,

to sever the tape near the moistening means but linl advance thereof.

36. In a tape serving device, the combina tion With tape moistening meansy andy a manually operable reciprocable tape feeder,

l nal slot therein and provided with turned over flanges for forming a channel for the tape, a tape moistening means atv one end of said guide, a reciprocable tape feeder to grip the tape through Said slot and draw it forward in the guide toward the moistening means, of a choppin knife having a handle conveniently opera 1e at the concluf sion of a feeding stroke of the feederfor severing the tape at the end of said guide and in advance of said moistening means.

In testimony signature to this specification.

THEODORE HKRUEGER whereof I have affixed my "of aI chopping knife having a handle con- 

